[Bobbuttons]

Feel free to post about the favorite players you have had on any of your leagues, solo or online...



In one of my oldest leagues, which is sadly now long defunct, I had a pitcher named German Carruthers. He spent his entire career with my team and amassed 300+ wins. Certainly an all-time favorite of mine.

Currently I have a player who may have had his swan song in the last season I played. I have an alternate replay of baseball history that started in 1931. In 2003, the first season in which version 6 didn't import rookies, I decided to go from mere observer to GM. I took over the most hapless team in the league, the Minneapolis Millers, who had won 2 division titles in their 62 year history but never a pennant.

In my first draft, with the first overall pick, I took a 22 year old Cuban named Asbel "The Dream" Silvas. After a couple months in AAA he was called up that first year and played pretty well for 62 games. Another good year after that, hitting .268 in 121 games. Silvas had great potential in contact and power. The contact came pretty fast. The power took a couple of years longer. So he was placed in the leadoff spot until that power came and allowed me to move him to the middle of the lineup. By 2007 he was the 3 hitter and a perennial All-Star and took home his first of three batting titles at 352.

In 2010 he won his first Ty Cobb Award by hitting .339 with 31 HR and 119 RBI. His second Ty Cobb Award came the next year (.330, 35 HR, 111 RBI), third in 2013 (.332, 33 HR, 127 RBI) and 4th and last in 2015 (.341, 34 HR, 125 RBI). We have now wrapped the 2018 season with Silvas backed where he effectively started his career.. in the leadoff spot. His power had dropped, though he was still hitting for average and drawing walks.. and still had a little speed left. At age 37 he hit .292 with 16 HR and 85 RBI and stole 28 bases. His ratings have taken a big hit, so if this isn't his last year... it will probably be his last year as a full time player.

He was the first person selected in what would be the ultimate turnaround for Minneapolis. Going from league doormat to the most hated franchise in the league... 8 pennants and 6 World Championships. His career numbers 2003-2018:

2,314 games (franchise record)
.311 average (3rd in franchise history, 14th All-Time)
404 HR (2nd in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle)
1,517 RBI (franchise record)
1,656 Runs (franchise record, 29th all-time)
2,759 hits (franchise record, 31st all-time)
495 SB (franchise record, 16th all-time)

9 time All-Star, Paul Waner Award in 2008 (Playoff MVP)

His postseason numbers:

80 games (3rd all-time)
.327 BA
315 AB (2nd)
103 H (2nd)
10 HR (11th)
49 RBI (4th)
54 R (2nd)
18 SB (1st)

His 6 World Championships are one behind mainstays of the unbelievable Jacksonville Suns run during the 1970's, Tony Conigliaro and Frank Linzy.